Book of the Month is a monthly book subscription box. Each month, five curators pick out their favorite new hardcover books, and you can choose which one you want to receive on the first of the month for $17.99/month. You can also add up to two additional books for only $9.99 each. (This box was named one of the best subscriptions for avid readers in the 2023 Subscription Box Awards.)
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
My BOTM Pick for November: This Spells Love by Kate Robb, Hardcover Retail Value $16.00
Back of Book Summary:
What if one little wish changed everything?
When Gemma gets dumped by her long-term boyfriend, she reacts the way any reasonable twenty-eight-year-old would: by getting drunk with her sister, kooky aunt, and best friend, Dax. After one too many margaritas, they decide to perform a love-cleansing spell, which promises to erase Gemma’s ex from her memory. They follow all the instructions, including a platonic kiss from Dax to seal the deal.
When Gemma wakes up, she realizes that this silly spell has worked. Not only does it seem that she never dated her ex, but the rest of her life is completely unrecognizable. The worst part: Dax has no idea who she is.
To reverse the spell and get back to her old life, Gemma must convince her once-best-friend-now-near-stranger to kiss her. But as she carries out her plans, she finds herself falling for him—hard. Soon, Gemma begins to wonder whether she even wants to go back to the way things once were. What if Dax was The One all along?
My Summary
Most of us have had dreams of wiping away an ex and all the stress they brought with them, but have you ever thought about what else would change if you could wave that magic wand? What else you stand to lose?
Gemma Wilde is still reeling from a break-up with long-time boyfriend Stuart, when she visits quirky Aunt Vivi's bookstore for a girls' night in and a few too many margaritas with big her sister Kiersten. The plan is to get over Stuart, and it just so happens Aunt Vivi has an old book of spells, including a love cleanse guaranteed to help you wash that man right outta your hair.
Fortunately - or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it - Gemma's had just enough tequila to make magic spells seem like a viable option. The arrival of her best friend, Dax McGuire, provides the final ingredient to the make the spell come true – a kiss to seal the deal.
Gemma wakes up the next morning to find out she never met or dated Stuart, but now her entire life has been turned upside down. It turns out she's never met Dax either, nor does she have her high powered job or the condo that's long served as her safe space.
Pulling on magical realism threads that bring to mind both Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic, Robb's book follows Gemma as she makes sense of the butterfly effect unleashed by the spell, and comes to grips with paths unchosen.
The Verdict
With the stress of the holidays on the horizon, I wanted my November Book of the Month to be on the lighter side - especially coming off the heels of the dark thriller I read in October. Spotting both the "magical" and "salacious" labels on the BOTM listing for This Spells Love, the choice was easy to make.
It didn't hurt that Robb is a debut author, and Book of the Month would be sharing the book before it actually hits shelves in December.
The result was exactly as expected. This Spells Love is what I consider an escapist read - the sort of book you stuff in your bag when you're going on vacation. With the magical twist thrown in the middle of what is otherwise a modern-day realistic story, this month's pick could easily have crossed the line into froth. It's the "what if" thread Robb pulls through the plot line that helps make the story feel just relatable enough to keep you reading and pondering your own regrets, and whether it would be worth undoing them.
Value — Was This Box Worth It?
Considering the November book was not available on bookshelves, this Book of the Month Club pick was definitely worth it to me. I didn't have to wait, and I got an intro to a brand-new author.
BOTM Club starts at $17.99, depending on your chosen subscription.
The Cost: $9.99 + free shipping (This price is only for your first month).
Value Breakdown: This box costs $9.99, but the book I chose will retail as hardcover for $16.00, which was a discount of about $5 for me. (Remember...this is first month only).
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this book if you sign up today? Yes! But you will need to order it as an add-on.
What do you think of the Book of the Month subscription? Let us know below with your own review!
Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.